Vehicle



March 28, 1950 l R. BURNES l x-:TL 2,502,367

March 28,1950 R. BURNES mL l 2,502,367

`VEHICLE Filed Jan. 11, 1947 v 2 SheebSSheet 2 IN V EN TOR` PatentedMar. 28, 1950 VEHICLE Ralph Bui-nes and Stanley S. Harris, Brooklyn, N.Y.; said Harris assignor to said .Burnesl Application January 11, 1947,lSerial No. 721,590 y9. claims. (o1.v 2st- 226) 1 This inventionrelatesto vehicles, particularly tov self-propelied vehicles, and hasforV itsprncipal object to provide an improved tricyole in Vwhirmpropulsion thereof ,is obtained by the rider freriplbc.Mirzathe.VSeatvertically.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ,improvedbody-propelled vehicle in which for- Award motion. isy continuallyassured.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- ,vide an improvedbody-propelled vehicle in which the thighs and feet of thev operator areso braced `as to increase, effective application of the driving force.

`Yet-anotherobjectofthe invention is to increase the operative safetyvof body-,propelled vehicles.

A furtherbbject ofthe invention is to provide a three -wheeled vehicle4having -two steering wheels and a driving wheel articulated by verticalreciprocating `motion of a. -resiliently supported .saddle.

4With the above objects in view, a preferred embodiment of the inventiondiscloses a tricycle comfprisingla frame with a pair of front steeringIwheels-and a single rear driving wheel articulated ,through a crank byvertical reciprocating movelmentof a saddlevcarriedfupon one end of aleaf spring, the other end -of the spring being bent `upon itselfandsecured to a-platform disposed on the frame intermediatethe front andrear i zwheels. In frontof the saddle is shown an arcuate twoplOnged-member for engaging the thighs rand in front of the leaf springon the platform is a double-pronged stirrup for engagement-mth the feetof thepropellant-the member and stirrup affording `means for increasingthesafety `of operation-of the vehicle in the event of a sudden stop;and yet increasing thenease .with whichith@ v:vehicle max/be propelled.

rconstruction ,of the 5driving wheelY hub` with connection thereof .totheframe `and crank,

Fig. Sis Ja side ,view ofparack and aratchet wheeldriving mechanism forthe vehicle with the rack shown in the uppermost or resting position,

Figi? is a View. partly in section, taken along line 1-1 of Fig.,6,4and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line ,8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly. 4to Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, there is shown a vehicle ID of the three wheeledtypehaving apair of steering Wheels I2 at thefront and a driving wheel I4 preferablylarger than the steering wheels,` at the rear. The steering wheels2I-Zare journalled on ashaft I6 which; is carried .at the lower end ofmabifurcated element I8, such as a steering fork, the upper portion ofl`which is constitutedas a single tubular postZIJ journalled inatubularupstanding member 22 of the frame 24. r`The upper en d of thetubularpcst 20 isadapted-to frictionally receiveahandle bar post-26 of apair of steering handles 28,-the handle bar post 26r being locked `tothe tubularpost 20 linthe usual .manner (not shown), sothat the frontwheels I2 may bedirected by manipulation vof the handles 28, asis Wellknown.

The frame ,-24 interconnecting the front and -rear WheelspIZ'landIIIrespectively, is of light construction and comprises, in general,flat side bars 30 connected at the front to the post 22 and loopedaround the rear-of the driving Wheel,l4 The intermediate portions of thebars 3 0 yare shown provided `with inturned anges 32 (Fig. 4) tofacilitate mounting thereon `an .arcuately shaped platform34 upon whichis rigidly secured by rivets 35 a bifurcated stirrup 36 ofapproximatelyv T configuration, as shown; 4The platform 34 maybesecuredto the bars 30 in any-suitable manner, asby a frictional ilt.It is to be noted that the stirrup 36 and platform 34-are sovconstituted'thatthe propellants feet (see Fig. `l) are adapted torestontheu platform Ywith the cross bars of the stirrup abovethe; shoetops, the reason for` which will appear hereinafter.

To the Arear ofthe stirrup 36 is shown a flat resilient member, such asa leaf spring 38, one end of which isrigidly secured tof-the platform 34by a pair of bolt-nut combinations 40. The leaf spring 38 is bentbackupon itselfarcuatelmas shown, to pretension it and-the other end thereofis loopedaround itself to form a bearing VII fora cross-rod42 of aninverted yoke member 44 having sidesv ,45. To the cross-rod-llZ isrigidly fasteneda seat err-,saddle V48 having a framell with a pair ofspaced depending ears 52 disposed at the sides of the spring bearing 4|.Pins 54 driven through the ears 52 and cross-rod 42 serve to preventrotary motion being imparted to the saddle 48. Just ahead of the saddle,as seen in Fig. 1, is shown an arcuately shaped biurcated member 5Bhaving a pair of downwardly curved lateral arms 58 extending from theupper end of an arcuate rod '50 and a longitudinal rod 62 (Fig. 3)extending rearwardly from the lower end of rod 6I), said longitudinalrod 62 being rigidly secured to the saddle frame 50 in any suitable andwell known manner.

The lower ends of the sides 48 of the yoke 44 are pivotally connected toIlinks 64 as byboltnut -combinations SI5, each link 64 being inwardlyturned, passed through openings in the frame bars 3B, (see Fig. 5) andprovided with overlapping ends 68 to form a crank for the driving wheelI4. As seen in Fig. 5, the hub I of the driving wheel I4 is hollow andis adapted to receive the ends 68, being rigidly secured thereto by apin 12. The hub 'IIJ is also shown provided with angular inturned anges'I4 to which are connected the usual spokes 76, the other ends of thespokes being terminated in the rim I8 of the driving wheel I4 in theconventional manner. Interposed between the frame bars 3B and each sideof the hub 'iii are preferably shown washers 8|). From the above, it isreadily apparent that rotation of the links 64 will transmitcorresponding rotative movement to the wheel I4.

The operation of the vehicle Il! will now be described. The propellant82 seats himself upon the saddle 48 with his two feet resting upon theplatform and under the stirrup 36 and with his thighs under lateral armsS and at each side of upstanding rod 6I?. It is thus seen that thepropellant is rmly braced upon the vehicle and cannot be dislodged by asudden stopping of the vehicle It. The weight of the propellant 82 willforce the yoke 44 and upper end of spring 38 downward-ly, therebyrevolving crank E4 and driving wheel I4 counterclockwise, in thedirection of the arrow as viewed in Fig. l. Upon reaching the lowermostposition of the stroke of the crank 64, and it is to be noted at thispoint that the stirrup 35 prevents the feet of the propellant fromleaving the platform 34, the propellant 82 will then raise himselfthereby carrying upwardly with him the saddle 4&3, and yoke 44, in Viewof the engagement by his thighs with the T-shaped member 5d. Thepotential energy of the spring 38 also assists in raising the saddle 48,which continues rotation of the crank 64 in the same direction until thetop of the stroke is reached, after which the above operation isrepeated to propel the vehicle Iii in a forward direction.

With the hereinbefore described arrangement forward propulsion of thevehicle lil is not always certain. and to assure such propulsion in allcases the embodiment shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is provided. In theseviews the driving mechanism is the only portion of the vehicle Iii thatis modined, the frame bars 3%, spring 38, and saddle 48 beingsubstantially identical. The lower portion of the yoke 44 is shownprovided with a pair of racks 54 having teeth Sii facing towards therear of the vehicle iii. An upper stop e3 with a. resilient cushion 8Sand a lower stop Si' with a resilient cushion 8| are shown rigidlysecured to each of the racks 84 in any suitable manner, as by a bolt 92and a pin Q4. The racks 34 are adapted to be reciprocated vertically bythe hereinbefcre described movement of the saddle 48 and are guided intheir movements by brackets secured to the outer surfaces of frame bars3i) by bolt-nut combinations 98. Each bracket 36 is provided at itsforward end with an upstanding U-shaped element IDI! the outer arm ofwhich is bent inwardly (see Fig. 8) just above the top edge of the framebar 3D until it is ush with the outer face of the bar 38. A5 seen inFig. 7, the opening |02 Within the U-shaped element provides a guidewayfor the rack S4.

Each of the racks 84 is shown in mesh en# gagement with a pinion orratchet wheel |84 and to facilitate upward movement of the rack anarcuate spring member |65 is secured at one end, as by pins |08, to theupstanding U-shaped element Iil, the free end of the spring being bowedin such manner that the convex surface thereof is biased against therack 84. It is readily seen that during downward movement the rack 84will be forced into engagement with ratchet wheel |84, while duringupward movement the rack may move freely by pressing against the springi036. It is further seen that the rack is limited in its movement by thestops 88 and td, the cushion 89 of the former striking the top ofelement |08 at the lowermost position of the rack and the cushion 9i ofthe latter striking the bottom surface of the bracket 96 and frame 35|at the uppermost position of the rack.

Each ratchet wheel |84 is rigidly secured to a shaft I IIE, as by a pinI I2 press fit through aligned openings in the hub I|4 thereof and shaftIIB (Fig. 8) The shaft I Ill is in turn rigidly secured by a pin |I4press fit through aligned openings in the shaft and hub I Iii of thedriving wheel i I3. Each end of the shaft I I Il is journalled in abearing |20 disposed in both the frame bar Si) and bracket 85.transverse movement of the shaft being prevented by a washer I22 and anut |24 threadedly engageable therewith.

A second upstanding element |25 is shown integral with and adjacent theother end of bracket S6 for supporting a stud shaft |28 upon which ismounted a pawl |30 biased into engagement with the teeth of ratchetwheel |04 by a coiled spring |32. The upper portion of the upstancingelement |26 is preferably shaped in the form of an inverted U to providea bearing support for both ends of shaft |28, which ends are securedagainst endwise movement by Cotter pins As seen in Figs. 6 and '7, theouter end of coiled spring |32 is passed through an opening |35 inelement |26 while the other end is tensionally disposed lby a bend |38upon the upper surface of pawl |30, the free end of which is therebyforced into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel |04 in theconventional manner.

In operation, assuming the resting condition shown in Fig. 6, thepropellant upon seating himself upon the saddle will drive the rack 84downwardly with the result that ratchet wheel |04 will be rotatedcounterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 6, and the vehicle I0 propelled in aforward direction. Upon the propellant raising his body in thehereinbeiore described manner, the rack 84 will beretracted to theinitial starting position after which the above cycle of operation isrepeated.

Thus, it will be apparent that among others the objects of theinvention, as especially aforementioned, are achieved. Obviously,numerous changes in construction and re-arrangement 'of the parts of themechanism might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention, as dened by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame, a steering wheel and adriving wheel carried by said frame, a leaf spring bent back upon itselfhaving one end thereof attached to the frame, a saddle connected to theother end of said spring, a driving member interposed between saidsaddle and said driving wheel, said driving member being adapted torotate said driving wheel upon movement of said saddle in a downward andupward manner by a propellant, and transverse means rigidly coupled tosaid saddle for engaging the tops of the thighs of the propellant.

2. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame, a steering wheel and adriving wheel carried by said frame, a leaf spring bent back upon itselfhaving oneend thereof attached to the frame, a saddle connected to theother end l of said spring, a driving member interposed between saidsaddle and said driving wheel, said driving member being adapted torotate said driving wheel upon reciprocal movement of said saddle by apropellant, and a bifurcated element with transverse arms rigidlycoupled to l said saddle for engaging the tops of the thighs of thepropellant.

3. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame, a steering wheel and adriving wheel carried by said frame, a leaf spring bent back upon itselfhaving one end thereof attached to the frame, a saddle connected to theother end of said spring, a driving member interposed between. saidsaddle and said driving wheel, said driving member being adapted torotate said driving wheel upon reciprocal movement of said saddle by apropellant, a bifurcated element rigidly coupled to said saddle forengaging the thighs of the propellant, and a stirrup on said framedirectly in front of the attached end of said spring for engaging thepropellants feet.

4. A tricycle comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of steeringWheels and a driving Wheel carried by said frame, a leaf spring bentback upon itself having one end thereof attached to the frame, a saddleconnected to the other end of said spring, a driving member interposedbetween said saddle and said driving Wheel, said driving member beingadapted to rotate said driving wheel upon reciprocal movement of saidsaddle by a propellant, a T-shaped element rigidly coupled to saidsaddle for engaging the thighs of the propellant, and a T- shapedstirrup on said frame directly in front of the attached end of saidspring for engaging the propellants feet, whereby the reciprocalmovement of said saddle is under direct control of the propellant.

5. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of steeringwheels rotatably carried at one end of the frame, a driving wheelrotatably carried at the other end of said frame, a leaf spring bentback upon itself having one end attached to the frame, a saddle carriedupon the other end of said spring, a crank on said driving wheel, a linkinterconnecting said crank and said saddle, a T-shaped stirrup on saidframe directly in front of the attached end of Cil 6 said spring, andrigid bifurcated means connected to said saddle.

6'. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of steeringwheels rotatably carried at one end of the frame, a single driving Wheelrotatably carried at the other end of said frame, a leaf spring bentback upon itself having one end attached to the frame, a saddle carriedupon the other end of said spring, an arm carried by and rotatable withsaid driving wheel, a link interconnecting said arm and said saddle,whereby said arm is rotated upon reciprocal movement of said link, aT-shaped stirrup on said frame in front of the attached end of saidspring, and rigid bifurcated means at the front of said saddle.

7. A vehicle comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of steeringwheels rotatably carried at one end of the frame, a single driving wheelrotatably carried at the other end of said frame, a leaf spring bentback upon itself having one end attached to the frame, a saddle carriedupon the other end of said spring, a ratchet wheel carried by androtatable with said driving wheel, a rack interconnecting said ratchetwheel and said saddle, a T-shaped stirrup on said frame in front of theattached end of said spring, and bifurcated means connected to saidsaddle.

8. A tricycle comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of steeringWheels rotatably carried at one end of the frame, a driving wheelrotatably carried at the other end of said frame, a leaf spring bentback upon itself having one end attached to the frame, a saddle carriedupon the other end of said spring, a ratchet wheel carried by androtatable with said driving wheel, a reciprocally mounted rack forinterconnecting said ratchet wheel and said saddle, a pawl for limitingrotation of said ratchet wheel to one direction, stop elements forlimiting the period of movement of said rack, a bifurcated stirrup onsaid frame, and bifurcated means connected to said saddle.

9. In a tricycle of the type having a pair of steering wheels and adriving Wheel rotatably carried upon a frame, the combination with aspring dependent saddle and mechanism for actuating said driving wheel,of a rigid bifurcated member adjacent the front of said saddle and aT-shaped, rigid stirrup on said frame directly ahead of the attached endof said spring for constraining a propellants thighs and feet inposition.

RALPH BURNES. STANLEY S. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNlTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 222,861 Brasch Dec. 23, 1879529,717 Deacon Nov. 27, 1894 1,276,168 Buchholz Aug. 20, 1918 1,632,405Harrison June 14, 1927 2,018,381 Rumsey Oct. 22, 1935

